Illuminated semaphore.



A'. D. ARGMBALD. ILLUMINATED SLMAPHORB. APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1967y @i 19649 Petemed Feb. 9, i909.

y 5' .fm/ambi ALBAD. RCHIBLD, OF COYlNGTON, KENTUCKY.

ILLUMINATED SEMAPHDRE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 9, i909.

Application filed fay 24, 1907. Serial No. 375,@27.

.To a-ZZ whom it muy concern.'

Be it known that I, ALBA D. ARCHIBALD, a citizen of the United States, andresiding at Covington, Kenton county, State of lieutucky, have invented certain new and useful lm rovenients in Illuminated Seniai'ihores; an do declare the following to be a clear, full, and exact desc'riptionot the invention, attention being' called'to the accompanying drawing, with the reference characters marked thereon, which forni also a part of lthis specication.

This inventioiivrelates to certain means and devices whereby, by illumination, the usual seinapl'iore-signal device used in oonneotion with rail-way systems, is also rendered available atinight, the operation ot' the illuminatingr means being automatic and induced by the usual operation of the semaphore.

The invention consists ot' the particular means and devices as hereinafter described and pointed Oiitin the olainisand as illus- -trated in the accompanying drawing, in

Figure 1, shows in elevation a usual semaphore signal with an adjacent rail-way track in profile. Figs. 2 and 3, show the upper part of the semaphore in diti'erent signalingpositions. ldig. el, shows the upper part oi the post merely. of the semaphore -i arm detached. Fig. 6, shows again the upper part of the semaphore with the illuminating meansinoiiilied. Fig. 7,`is a side-elevation ot the preceding figure, 'viewed troni the lett side. 'lhe semaphore arm is presumed to be in norinal position with the balancing weight cut oli. Fie, 8, is a sectional detail View of the light holder. Fig. 9, is a top-view oi' the semaphore in thisY .modified form and with the 'arm in noi-mal position.

ln itsA usualA i'oiin the semaphore signaling-device consists of a post A, erected in proper position with reference to a near-by track B, and provided at proper height with the signalingarin C, which is adjiistably supported between its ends on the post by a pivot D. A balancing` weight lil, on the shorter part. oi' this ari'ii holds the saine iii a certain iioi'iiial posiiion which is a loi-in Zonta] one as shown in Figs. l, arid This U position is at the same time a signaleonveying one and changes from it either up or down as shown niligs `2, and `3, .serve to convey additiiniilisigmals. Whatttiese sig- Fig. 5, shows a rear-viewv nals may mean is not material for present purposes, nor have the means t'or manipulating the semaphore any bearing on niy invention. Ropes guided by pulleys are lgenerally used for this purpose and the arrangement is such that the arm, unless manipulated, always occupies a certain normal position, which is usually the horizontal one and to which position, after every manipulation, it seeks toretiirn, which tendency is induced by the balanceweight. This norinal position generally serves to indicate the dangeisigna Darkness of night renders the semaphore useless Aunless means are provided to malte it visible.v My invention provides such nicans ,which ope ate in a certain manner, eo that the semaphore-arm-is illuminated in any ot its signaling positions to which it may he adjusted by the operator and may thus be readily seen at night. The illumination may be merely a plain one, or a colorseheine may he addechso that with a change ot the signal-arm ii'oin one 'position to another, the color of the light changes also whereby a certain signal. is not only indiatcd by a diti'erent position of the arm, but also by a diileient light. For these purposes .i provide a boxshaped relieotor F,

which is attached to the proper side of the longer part otl ihr seiiiaphoie arm. Its open iront may be closed by a glasspanel G, to

painting ora lining, to render them rejllective.

iii the form shown in Figs. 6, to 9, mere illumination .without change ot color is contemplated. ln the `other i'orin shown in Fips. l. to 5, change ot eoloiA is added. In this latter case the i'ifilecior box is divided lengthwise by partitions f, in as many compari niente as there are colors to be used. For illuminating these compartments incandescent', electric light lamps H, are used, one or niore being` provided in cach compartnient. The bulbs ot these lamps 'are of diti'ereiit colors, vl'oil instance in one eoiiipartnir-iii they may be plain, in the other red,

and in the iliirdone green. or each coiiipart- `and another becomes visible. Thusthe 'the trent-side ot ythe arm, supported on the 'pivot thereof andadapted to illuminate the retlector-box in all signaling positions of the arm and means to change'the color of the light emanating from the reector box simultaneously with the change of positionof the arm.

in a semaphore signal, the combination of a post, pivot-projecting from one side of it, a semaphore arm onlthis pivot supported close against the post and adjustable thereon to various. signa ing positions, a reeetor-boxprovided on the outer or front side ot the arm, so as and means also supported on the pivot and lin front of the arm andadaptedto supply light to the reflector box.

It. In a semaphore signal, the combination oi a post,'an arm pivotally supported thereon so as to be adjustable to various signaling positions, a reflector-box attached to the arm tati 'lso as to move with the same,

and open at its inner end, and opposite the open end of the reector,

its side towardsl this end being also open to:

an extent to cover the open end of 'the reieotor-box in all ositions of the semaphorearm, iight-.bois whereby the redentor-box may be to move with the same' a light-box stationary on the post suitable il uminating means in theV lighted up, and hoods provided on this latter to prevent radiation of light through that part of the opening in the` light-box which is not covered by the end of the re- Hector-box.

5. ln a semaphore signal, the combination of a post, an arm pivotally supported thereon so as to be adjustable to various signaling positions. a reflector-box attached to the arm so as'to move-with the same, and openl at its inner end, a light-box stationary on the post and-opposite the open end of thefreiector box, its side towards this end being also open to an extent to cover the open end of the reflector-benin allpositions of the semaphorearm, vari-colored glass panels in this opening, there being one for each signaling poi sition of the semaphore-arm,'the arrangement being such that a different colored panel is always opposite the open end of the l i reflector-box and suitable illuminating means in the light-box which radiate light through the colored panels into the reflector box.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto Aaiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. ALBA D. ARCHIBALD.

Witnesses:

C. SPEN GEL, T. Ln BEAN. 

